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North Country National Scenic Trail Association
Central New York Chapter
NCTA CENTRAL NEW YORK CHAPTER
EVENTS
2022
Come out and meet other members and guests of the Central New York Chapter of the North Country Trail Association. We look forward to a great season of recreational and work hikes. If you would like more information about a particular hike or event, call the volunteer coordinator listed in the description.
When you go on a hike, be sure to dress properly, and bring a lunch and water. Also, bring any medications that you may need, such as for bee stings. Remember that the coordinators are volunteers; please help them by staying with the group during the event. Of course, hiking involves risks; anyone participating does so at his/her own risk.
Rating for Difficulty of hike:
E - easy, level, less than 4 miles hiking distance
M - moderate, less than 1000 feet of elevation gain, 4 - 7 miles of hiking distance
S - strenuous, 1000 to 2500 feet of elevation gain, 7 - 12 miles of hiking distance
Work Hikes: Work hikes involve trail maintenance or trail construction. No expertise is needed. Try one! The club has tools. However, if you can bring loppers or a bow saw or a weed whip, that is great. Also, remember to bring work gloves.
Sun. Jan. 30 – Snowshoe Hike, Madison County Distillery to Stone Quarry Hill Art Park – (Easy)Coordinator: Scott Sellers (315-440-7076)
This hike will take us over a scenic woodland trail from the Madison County Distillery to the Art Park and back. Hiking Distance: 2.5 miles roundtrip. Meeting time and place: 1:30 p.m., parking lot at Madison County Distillery, 2412 Route 20 East, Cazenovia. Qualifies for NCTA Hike 100 Challenge.
Wednesday February 16 – Full Moon Snow Shoe Hike – (Easy)
Coordinator and hike leader: Scott Sellers (315-440-7076)
Join us for a full moon snowshoe hike in Nelson Swamp Unique Area. Hiking Distance: 2.0 miles round trip, on level ground. Meeting time and place: 5:30 p.m., Nelson Swamp trailhead parking lot, Constine Bridge Road (opposite the Madison County Transfer Station, ? mile south of the intersection of Stone Quarry Road and Ballina Road).
Qualifies for NCTA Hike 100 Challenge.
Pre-registration is not required.
Sun. Feb. 27 – Snowshoe Hike, Madison County Distillery to Stone Quarry Hill Art Park – (Easy) Coordinator: Scott Sellers (315-440-7076)
This hike will take us over a scenic woodland trail from the Madison County Distillery to the Art Park and back. Hiking Distance: 2.5 miles roundtrip. Meeting time and place: 1:30 p.m., parking lot at Madison County Distillery, 2412 Route 20 East, Cazenovia. Qualifies for NCTA Hike 100 Challenge.
Sun. Mar. 6 – Snowshoe Hike to Locate a Hemlock Stand and Examine it for Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) – (Moderate)
Coordinator: Steve Kinne (315-882-3684)
Come take a snowshoe hike where you will both learn about the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) and its devastating effect on Eastern Hemlocks, as well as actually participate in an active survey of a Hemlock stand in Nelson Swamp Unique Area. The hike will be led by Steve Kinne, team leader for the CNY HWA-Hunters. This is a group of dedicated volunteers that perform surveys of Hemlock stands in a multi-county region in Central NY. The data they collect for the New York State Hemlock Initiative at Cornell is vitally important for both monitoring the spread of HWA and detecting infections at earlier stages when treatment/management strategies can be of most value. Hiking Distance: 2.5 miles. Duration: 2 hours. Meeting Time and Place: 1:00 p.m., parking lot at Nelson Swamp trailhead on Constine Bridge Rd, Cazenovia (1/2 mile south of intersection of Ballina Rd and Stone Quarry Rd).
Fri. Mar. 18 – Full Moon Snowshoe Hike, Stone Quarry Hill Art Park – (Easy)
Coordinator: Scott Sellers (315-440-7076)
Join us for a full moon snowshoe hike at Stone Quarry Hill Art Park. Hiking Distance: about 1.5 miles. Meeting time and place: 7:30 p.m., Secret Garden Parking Area at Stone Quarry Hill Art Park, Cazenovia. (3883 Stone Quarry Rd, Cazenovia). Qualifies for NCTA Hike 100 Challenge.
Sat. April 16 – Link Trail Mt. Pleasant to Nelson Rd – (Moderate)
Coordinator: Kathy Disque (315-656-3383, email kathydisque@yahoo.com)
Join us for a leisurely hike on the North Country Trail from Canastota to Nelson Road. We'll check the progress of the re-route around the stairway and look for early wildflowers. Joint hike with ADK-ON. Hiking Distance: 5 miles. Meeting time and place: 10:00 AM, Thruway Exit 34 (Canastota). Qualifies for NCTA Hike 100 Challenge.
Sat. April 30 – Recreational Hike, Gorge Trail, Cazenovia - (Moderate)
Coordinator: Kathy Eisele (315-558-9912). We will walk the route of the Lehigh Valley Railroad from the Cazenovia Village Garage to Bingley Road and back for round trip approx. 5.0 miles. The wooded trail follows Chittenango Creek and crosses numerous ravines along the route. The hike is mostly flat. Bring lunch or snacks; weather permitting, we will stop for spring lunch/snacks in the woods. Meeting Time and Place: 10:00 a.m. Village Garage parking area. Directions: Turn left from William St.; drive past Gissin's Photography Studio to the Village Garage Parking Lot; park on the right hand side; Do Not obstruct village trucks. Qualifies for NCTA Hike 100 Challenge. Sleet/rain cancels hike.
Sat. May 14 – Spring Birding Hike - (Easy)
Coordinator: Steve Kinne (315-882-3684)
A slow, quiet hike on a section of the Link Trail of Madison County from Damon Rd. 1/2 mile south to the beaver dam complex. This is late spring bird migration time, and we'll see how many birds we can identify by sight/sound. A clear cut adjacent to the trail may bring in some additional species. Bring binoculars, and any identification keys you like (e.g. books, birding apps). Hiking Distance: About 1 mile roundtrip. Meeting Time: 8:00 AM. Meeting place: Parking lot on Damon Rd, New Woodstock where the Link Trail crosses (2.4 miles east of Rt. 13 in New Woodstock).
Sun. May 15 – Work Hike, Perryville
Coordinator: Scott Sellers (315-440-7076)
We will cut back growth along the trail from the trail head at the intersection of Quarry Rd and Ingalls Corners Rd to the Lehigh Valley Railroad grade. Bring work gloves, lopping shears, and a water bottle. Meeting Time and Place: 1:30 p.m., parking lot at Quarry Rd/Ingalls Corners Rd trailhead in Perryville (0.6 mile north of intersection of Quarry Rd and Perryville Rd).
Sat., June 4 – National Trails Day – NCT/Link Trail Wildflower Hike - (Easy)
Coordinators Mary Dineen (315-424-1284 ) and Kathy Eisele (315-558-9912). Join us for a Wildflower Hike. In the past we have identified 57 varieties of wildflowers/plants, including the rarely seen One-flowered Cancer Root. Joint hike with ADK-ON. Hiking Distance: short hike, probably a couple of miles, probably 3 hours. Meeting time and place: 1:15 p.m., parking lot Nelson Swamp Unique Area, limited parking available. Qualifies for NCTA Hike 100 Challenge. For a list of the sixty types of flowers/plants seen on this hike, click here.
Sat July 16 - Tree Identification Hike – (Easy)
Coordinator: Mark Wadopian (315-345-3292)
This hike will be a casual trek on easy terrain and cover the section of trail from Madison Distillery toward the Stone Quarry Art Park. Ten to twelve specific trees will be highlighted and include taxonomy and tips to assist in identification. The guided hike will turn around at the base of steeper terrain, but for those who wish, the hike can continue to the SQHAP. Meeting time and place: 1:30 p.m., parking lot at Madison County Distillery, 2412 Route 20 East, Cazenovia. Qualifies for NCTA Hike 100 Challenge.
Sat. July 30 - Invasive Species Identification Hike – (Easy)
Coordinator: Steve Kinne (315-882-3684)
We hear a lot about invasive species wreaking havoc on native plants and habitats… but can you identify these invasive species of plants, insects, etc. found along the hiking trails? Matt Gallo from the Finger Lakes PRISM (Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management) will join us on this hike and help find, identify, and understand the impact of some of these invasive plant and insect species. He'll also show how you can report invasives of particular interest so that professionals know where to focus their attention and management efforts.
Location: Portion of NCT between Oxbow Rd and Old Clockville Rd
Date: Saturday, 30 July
Time: 9:00-11:30 am
Distance: approx 2 miles
Directions:
The state-owned property is on Oxbow Road, Canastota, NY. The area is not marked at the road.
House numbers near the meeting place are in the 7500's.
GPS Coordinates: (43.0582495, -75.7493192)
It’s about a mile south of Rt 5. A marker will be placed at the entry road the morning of the hike.
Sat. Aug. 6 – CANCELLED - The Ferns of Pixley Falls State Park – (first half: easy to mod; second half: mod to difficult) Coordinator: Steve Kinne (315-882-3684).
Come take a hike with Mike Serviss (Regional Conservation Project Coordinator: for NYS Parks Central Region, and a botanist with a special interest in ferns) as we hunt for and identify different species of ferns in Pixley Falls State Park. PFSP is a picturesque park located on Rt 46, 18 mi N of Rome and 6 mi SW of Boonville. We will hike along the newly approved re-route of the North Country National Scenic Trail, now being developed in both Clark Hill State Forest and PFSP. The hike will start down at the falls proceed along Lansing Kill on the nature trail, and eventually climb higher until meeting the Red Trail. While some may choose to return to the parking area from here, the more adventurous can continue climbing the trail to the upper ridge of the escarpment looking for additional fern species. Hiking Distance: 1-1.5miles. Duration: 2-3 hours. Meeting Time and Place: Pixley Falls Parking area at 10:00 a.m.
Sat. Aug. 6 - Trail work - Volunteers needed to help with “roughing out” sections the new woodland foot trail through Clark Hill State Forest, northeast of Rome. This will be relatively light “roughing out” of sections of new trail: lopping brush, raking, and some initial smoothing of the trail surface. All levels of experience are welcome. Instruction and tools will be provided. Please contact Steve Kinne (at2hike@yahoo.com ) or text or call him at 315-882-3684. Meet-up is at 9:00 a.m., with the work day ending around 1:30 p.m.
Sun. Aug 7 - Trail work - Volunteers needed to help with “roughing out” sections the new woodland foot trail through Clark Hill State Forest, northeast of Rome. This will be relatively light “roughing out” of sections of new trail: lopping brush, raking, and some initial smoothing of the trail surface. All levels of experience are welcome. Instruction and tools will be provided. Please contact Steve Kinne (at2hike@yahoo.com ) or text or call him at 315-882-3684. Meet-up is at 9:00 a.m., with the work day ending around 1:30 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 13 – Recreational Hike, Stone Quarry Hill Art Park to Chenango Street
Coordinator: Scott Sellers (315-440-7076)
On this hike we will explore the Art Park's scenic views and outdoor artwork. We will hike the North Country Trail from the Art Park to Chenango Street in Cazenovia, descending 370 feet through woodlands, wetlands and agricultural fields, then returning to the Art Park. Hiking Distance: 5 miles roundtrip. Meeting time and place: 1:30 p.m., Secret Garden parking at Stone Quarry Hill Art Park, 3883 Stone Quarry Rd., Cazenovia. Qualifies for NCTA Hike 100 Challenge.
Sun. Aug 14 - Trail work - Volunteers needed to help with “roughing out” sections the new woodland foot trail through Clark Hill State Forest, northeast of Rome. This will be relatively light “roughing out” of sections of new trail: lopping brush, raking, and some initial smoothing of the trail surface. All levels of experience are welcome. Instruction and tools will be provided. Please contact Steve Kinne (at2hike@yahoo.com ) or text or call him at 315-882-3684. Meet-up is at 9:00 a.m., with the work day ending around 1:30 p.m.
Thurs. Aug. 18 - Trail work - Volunteers needed to help with “roughing out” sections the new woodland foot trail through Clark Hill State Forest, northeast of Rome. This will be relatively light “roughing out” of sections of new trail: lopping brush, raking, and some initial smoothing of the trail surface. All levels of experience are welcome. Instruction and tools will be provided. Please contact Steve Kinne (at2hike@yahoo.com ) or text or call him at 315-882-3684. Meet-up is at 9:00 a.m., with the work day ending around 1:30 p.m.
Sat. Aug. 20 - Trail work - Volunteers needed to help with “roughing out” sections the new woodland foot trail through Clark Hill State Forest, northeast of Rome. This will be relatively light “roughing out” of sections of new trail: lopping brush, raking, and some initial smoothing of the trail surface. All levels of experience are welcome. Instruction and tools will be provided. Please contact Steve Kinne (at2hike@yahoo.com ) or text or call him at 315-882-3684. Meet-up is at 9:00 a.m., with the work day ending around 1:30 p.m.
Sun. Aug. 21 - Trail work - Volunteers needed to help with “roughing out” sections the new woodland foot trail through Clark Hill State Forest, northeast of Rome. This will be relatively light “roughing out” of sections of new trail: lopping brush, raking, and some initial smoothing of the trail surface. All levels of experience are welcome. Instruction and tools will be provided. Please contact Steve Kinne (at2hike@yahoo.com ) or text or call him at 315-882-3684. Meet-up is at 9:00 a.m., with the work day ending around 1:30 p.m.
Thurs. Aug. 25 - Trail work - Volunteers needed to help with “roughing out” sections the new woodland foot trail through Clark Hill State Forest, northeast of Rome. This will be relatively light “roughing out” of sections of new trail: lopping brush, raking, and some initial smoothing of the trail surface. All levels of experience are welcome. Instruction and tools will be provided. Please contact Steve Kinne (at2hike@yahoo.com ) or text or call him at 315-882-3684. Meet-up is at 9:00 a.m., with the work day ending around 1:30 p.m.
Sun. Aug. 28 - Trail work - Volunteers needed to help with “roughing out” sections the new woodland foot trail through Clark Hill State Forest, northeast of Rome. This will be relatively light “roughing out” of sections of new trail: lopping brush, raking, and some initial smoothing of the trail surface. All levels of experience are welcome. Instruction and tools will be provided. Please contact Steve Kinne (at2hike@yahoo.com ) or text or call him at 315-882-3684. Meet-up is at 9:00 a.m., with the work day ending around 1:30 p.m.
Thurs. Sept. 1 - Trail work - Volunteers needed to help with “roughing out” sections the new woodland foot trail through Clark Hill State Forest, northeast of Rome. This will be relatively light “roughing out” of sections of new trail: lopping brush, raking, and some initial smoothing of the trail surface. All levels of experience are welcome. Instruction and tools will be provided. Please contact Steve Kinne (at2hike@yahoo.com ) or text or call him at 315-882-3684. Meet-up is at 9:00 a.m., with the work day ending around 1:30 p.m.
Sat. Sept. 17 – CANCELLED - Fungus Hike (Flat & Easy, about 1 mile)
Coordinator: Karen Campbell (315- 751-5881)
Ed Setliff will lead the hike in Nelson Swamp along the NCT/Link Trail - Chittenango Creek Loop. Our focus will be on the essential role fungi play in forest ecology. On a previous hike we lucked upon a cluster of young scarlet red Mycena leaiana mushrooms as well as a deadly poisonous destroying angel mushroom. Meeting time and place: 1:15 p.m. parking lot at Nelson Swamp Trailhead, on Constine Bridge Rd., Cazenovia (1/2 mile south of intersection of Ballina Rd. and Stone Quarry Rd.)
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Work hikes to establish the trail in Clark HIll State Forest:
After 15 trail-work sessions between July 21 and September 1, with nearly 75% of the trail now roughed out, Steve Kinne is scheduling his fall work sessions for the new foot-trail in Clark Hill State Forest, northeast of Rome. 30 volunteers have helped out so far, typically in teams of 5 to 11 workers. The work-day is 9 am to 1 pm.
Help is still needed!
If you can volunteer for one or more of the following dates, or just want to express interest in helping or to ask questions, please contact our dauntless trail boss:
Steve Kinne
at2hike@yahoo.com
text or telephone 315-882-3684.
Sunday September 25
Wednesday September 28
Saturday October 1
Sunday October 2
Thursday October 13*
Friday October 14*
Saturday October 15*
Sunday October 16*
* From October 13 to 16, Steve and volunteers who wish to camp will be working on the trail during the day while camping at Delta State Park. Steve can provide more information on this late-season camping opportunity.
This Clark Hill – Pixley Falls project, long in the planning, is to replace with woodland foot-path a segment of the North Country Scenic Trail that is presently road walk.
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Sun. Oct. 16 – ANNUAL MEETING
Coordinator: Mark Wadopian (315-345-3292)
Public invited. Learn about our Central NY North Country Trail Association Chapter and socialize with other hikers. Refreshments, short business meeting and a program presentation. The presentation is tentatively scheduled to describe long-term planning, obstacles and ultimately rapid progress in establishing the NCT through Clark Hill State Forest. Steve Kinne will lead the presentation.
Sun. Nov. 6 – Fish & Invertebrate Survey hike - Nelson Swamp Unique Area (Easy)
Coordinator: Scott Sellers (315-440-7076)
This hike will be guided by the Aquatic Biology class from Cazenovia College under the direction of Professor Thad Yorks. We will explore a wooded section of the North Country Trail along Chittenango Creek in Nelson Swamp Unique Area. The college students will help us identify as many fish and aquatic macroinvertebrates as we can find in the stream. Hiking Distance: 1 mile. Meeting Time: 2:00 PM. Meeting place: Parking lot at Nelson Swamp trailhead on Constine Bridge Rd, Cazenovia (1/2 mile south of intersection of Ballina Rd and Stone Quarry Rd).
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Central NY Chapter NCT Executive Committee Meetings: Second Tuesday of January, March, May, September and November.
Central NY Chapter Website: www.nctacnychapter.org
Main NCTA Website: www.northcountrytrail.org
Information: CNYNCTinfo@gmail.com
Revised 6/15/2022
Printable hike schedule file below (double click to open):
ewExternalFiles/CNYNCTA_Calendar2022.docx